Text-Combined Choices Tie Breaker

[DEMOREP1 at aol.com]

Single Winner Method with Combined Choices Tie Breaker
by DEMOREP1
27 May 1996
Article ___ 
Single Winner Elections

Sec. 1. [(a)] This Article shall be used for the election of one person to an
executive or judicial elective office.
[Option- (b) At least ____ days before the election day for the office each
candidate for the office may make public his/her numbered choices in rank
order for such office [Suboption- without same numbered choices].
(b) Any such choice(s) shall be given to each elector with the ballot for
such office.
(c) Each ballot shall contain a location whereby an elector may agree with
the choice(s) of a candidate.]

Sec. 2. (a) Each elector may vote zero (0) for each unacceptable candidate.
(b) Each elector may vote 1 for a first choice, 2 for a second choice, 3 for
a third choice, etc.
[Option- (c) The same choice number may be used more than once.]
[Option- (d) If an elector votes to use the Section 1 candidate choice(s),
then such choice(s) that do not duplicate the elector's choice(s) shall be
deemed to be in order after the elector's choice(s).]
[Option- (e) Next to the name of each candidate there shall be a location in
which each elector may give an approval percentage to the candidate (100
highest, 0 lowest).]

Sec. 3. (a) Any candidate gets a number of zero (0) votes that is a majority
of all the ballots shall lose. 
(b) If all candidates lose, then the vacancy in the office shall be filled
for a term of not more than 2 years by the legislative body having
jurisdiction over the office.

Sec. 4. (a) If one candidate gets more votes when paired with each other
candidate, then such candidate shall be elected.
(b) If any candidate gets less votes when paired with each other candidate,
then such candidate shall lose.
(c) In such pairs on each ballot, the lowest numbered choice that is for one
of the two candidates shall count as one vote for such candidate. [Option- If
the two candidates being paired have the same choice number, then each
candidate shall receive 0.5 vote.]

Sec. 5. (a) If no candidate is elected in Section 4, then the first plus
second choice votes on all ballots shall be combined. The candidate who
receives the highest majority of all ballots, if any, shall be elected. 
(b) If no candidate is elected in the preceding paragraph, then in like
manner one additional choice level shall be added and the votes shall be
combined repeatedly, if necessary (first plus second plus third, first plus
second plus third plus fourth, etc.). The candidate who receives the highest
majority of all ballots after each added choice level, if any, shall be
elected.
(c) If no candidate is elected after all choice levels are combined, then the
candidate with the highest number of votes shall be elected. [Option- If no
candidate is elected after all choice levels are combined, then the vacancy
in the office shall be filled for a term of not more than 2 years by the
legislative body having jurisdiction over the office.]
(d) If tie votes occur in this section, then a lottery shall be used.
[Option- (e) In this section if two or more (N) candidates have the same
choice number on a ballot, then each such candidate shall have a vote of 1/N
on each of the N choice levels involved.]
[Option- (f) A candidate shall have the option not to receive the votes from
any one or more ballots.]
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The option language obviously adds major complexity.
Thus, votes would be-- ranked (0, 1, 2, 3, etc. with a same number option)
and unranked nonvotes.
Sec. 4(a) is the standard Condorcet head to head pairing (which in effect
uses all choice levels to determine any possible winner).
The Sec. 5 tie breaker uses the fewest needed choice levels to determine any
possible winner (the first plus second choice levels, first plus second plus
third choice levels, etc.) by giving major importance to early choices. See
the Insincere Minority Votes message regarding Sec. 5(f).